The new protector, the earl of Northumberland, wished to challenge Spain's global empire and open up the Far East to European trade; he encouraged publications that would help encourage such enterprise and, under his direction, in 1552 Eden became secretary to Sir William Cecil and, in 1553, published A Treatyse of the Newe India, a translation of part of Sebastian Muenster's Cosmographia.[1]

In 1562 he entered the service of Jean de Ferrieres, the Vidame of Chartres, as a secretary. He remained in de Ferrieres' service until 1572, and travelled extensively with him in France and Germany.[3][1]